Friday, January 4, 2019_PT ISSUE

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Hidalgo County 724 Breyfogle Rd, Precinct 3 Mission, TX 78574 (956) 585-4509

Luis Garza

Justice of the Peace, Place 1 POLITICAL AD PD. BY JOE FLORES CAMPAIGN

Larry Gallardo

Joe Flores

Constable

Commissioner

J.J. Peña

Justice of the Peace, Place 2

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Progress times Vol. 47 - #19

Friday, January 4, 2019

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Former city manager celebrates

“wonderful ride” with Mission

By Jamie Treviño Following the announcement of his retirement, former Mission City Manager Martin Garza, Jr. is looking forward to spending more time with his family after over 26 years in public service.

Garza was honored at the Mission Event Center on Dec. 20 for his dedication and career with the city of Mission. At the city council meeting held earlier that week, the 20th was also proclaimed Martin Garza, Jr. Day. Several people spoke during the luncheon, includ-

INSIDE Hidalgo County News Updates

ing Mayor Armando O’caña, council members Jessica Ortega-Ochoa, Ruben Plata and Gus Martinez, Garza’s former teacher Janie Connelly, acting Interim City Manager Randy Perez, Deputy City Manager Aida Lerma and former Mission City Manager Julio Cerda.

“He would always go above and beyond to address a citizen’s concern,” Perez said. “Everyone is very appreciative of him taking the time personally to attend to them, and he always had a lobby full of people, because they knew that he would find a solution to their pressing issue.”

Martinez, who met Garza in high school, spoke about their first meeting when they played tennis together and their subsequent reunions over the years. He hopes Garza will relax, spend time with his family and “put away his hair gel.”

“Leadership at times

See MARTIN GARZA Pg. 11

Judge J.J. Peña and Judge Richard Cortez were sworn in to office this week. The new county courthouse law library will be named after former Judge Ramon Garcia. Find the details on the ceremonies and more, inside.

See Pg. 4

2018 Year in Review

In our 46th year of publication, the Progress Times covered some of the most major events of 2018. See a few of the highlights in a recap of what we covered last year in our continuing practice of bringing you the latest.

See Pg. 7

INDEX Entertainment..........pg. 2 Lifestyle.......................pg. 3 Sports............................pg.6 Obituaries..................pg. 9 Classifieds.................pg.11

Photo courtesy of the city of Mission.

Former Mission City Manager Martin Garza, Jr. (center) with his family at the luncheon in his honor at the Mission Event Center.

Man sues city of Mission after police shooting

Hidalgo police chief arrested on domestic violence charge

By Dave Hendricks

By Dave Hendricks

No amount of money could compensate Steven Wilson for a shotgun blast to the stomach.

A check for $5 million, though, certainly wouldn’t hurt.

Wilson filed a lawsuit against the city of Mission and police Lt. Ted Rodriguez on Dec. 18 — nearly two years after police accidentally shot him with a “breaching round” designed to blast open doors. The projectile punctured Wilson’s stomach, which required two surgeries to fix.

“Defendants engaged in the conduct described by this Complaint willfully, maliciously, in bad faith, and in reckless disregard of Plaintiff’s federally protected constitutional rights,” according to the lawsuit. “They did so with shocking and willful indifference to Plaintiff’s rights and their conscious awareness that they would cause Plaintiff severe physical and emotional injuries.”

Attorney Jose M. Martinez, who represents Wilson, didn’t respond to requests for comment. Attempts to contact Wilson through family members were unsuccessful.

Mission doesn’t comment on pending litigation, said City Attorney Abiel Flores.

Officers shot Wilson on

A sheriff’s deputy arrested Hidalgo police Chief Rudy Espinoza last week on a domestic violence charge.

The deputy arrested Hidalgo police Chief Rodolfo “Rudy” Espinoza, 64, of Mission on Dec. 26 after a woman said he grabbed her by the neck during an argument.

Hidalgo City Manager Julian Gonzalez declined to comment on the arrest but anticipated the City Council would discuss the matter Monday.

Steven Wilson Courtesy Photo

Jan. 9, 2017, when the Mission Police Department received calls about a naked man on the 100 block of Sunrise Lane.

After the second 911 call, officers identified the man as Wilson, according to police department records. He ran home and refused to cooperate with police.

About 30 minutes later, Wilson’s mother called 911.

She “stated that Steven was going crazy and that he was going to kill everybody,” according to police department records. She also told police that Wilson suffered from a mental illness and hadn’t been taking his

See SHOOTING Pg. 11

“It’s been between our attorney and his attorney,” Gonzalez said.

Attorneys Roberto “Bobby” Garcia and Alex Guajardo, who represent Espinoza, weren’t available for comment by the Progress Times print deadline.

Espinoza worked for the Edinburg Police Department and the McAllen Police Department before joining the Hidalgo County District Attorney’s Office in 2003.

He worked closely with

See POLICE CHIEF Pg. 11

Rodolfo Espinoza Courtesy Photo

Faced with 3 felony charges, Hidalgo County attorney surrenders his law license

By Dave Hendricks Faced with three felony charges, a well-known Hidalgo County attorney surrendered his law license last month.

James P. “Jim” Grissom, 71, of Pharr — who filed several lawsuits after the Panama Unit corruption scandal — struck a deal with the Hidalgo County District Attorney’s Office.

After he paid restitution and agreed never to practice law again, prosecutors filed motions to dismiss the charges. State District Judge

Bobby Flores granted the motions Dec. 14.

“We didn’t want him practicing law anymore,” said Hidalgo County District Attorney Ricardo Rodriguez.

Grissom didn’t respond to requests for comment.

During the past 30 years, Grissom handled hundreds of cases in Hidalgo County.

He’s perhaps best known, though, for representing people wronged by the Panama Unit and former Sheriff Lupe Treviño.

See FELONY CHARGES Pg. 10

James Grissom Courtesy photo via Odyssey

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Betty Vermeer will lead an Acrylic Paint-Along Class at the Upper Valley Art League annex on Thursday, Jan. 17, from 9 a.m. to noon.

The painting subject will be a Macaw parrot.

Materials will be furnished, including the sketch on a 9” X 12” canvas board, all paints, brushes and other material. This is a class for the beginner as well as the experienced artist learning basic paint mixing and art principles. Participants

should wear painting clothes and may bring a beverage and their own snacks. Coffee will be provided.

Cost is $20 for UVAL members, $30 for non-members. Class size is limited.

Register at the Upper Valley Art Gallery during gallery hours: Tuesday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Saturday, 9 a.m. to noon, at 921 E. 12th St. in Mission.

For information, call Vermeer at 402-921-0428.

Prize Patrol surprises employees The Education Foundation of Mission CISD Prize Patrol hit the road before

the holidays when Foundation members caravanned to several campuses present-

ing surprise checks to grant and scholarship recipients.

Accompanied by the drum

Endangered hornbills return to GPZ – 45 years later

Pictured are members of the Mission C.I.S.D. Education Foundation board of directors, district trustees, and district administrators as they present Diana Guzman from Mims Elementary with her grant check during one of the surprise stops by the Foundation’s Prize Patrol.

Coming Attractions

Rhinoceros Hornbill Rhino hornbills are listed as Vulnerable by the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, and their population continues to decline.

Their biggest threats include habitat loss and poaching.

Poachers hunt them for meat as well as for their hollow casques and feathers, which are used as an accessory.

Shockingly, the rhino hornbills also suffer from a case of mistaken identity – they are often mistaken for the helmeted hornbill, which has a similar casque that is worth more than ivory on the black market, placing the rhino hornbill at a great risk.

January 5-6 • The Hot Wheels™ Monster Trucks Live will be rolling into Bert Ogden Arena at 4900 S. I-69 in Edinburg. Shows will be held at 1:30 and 7:30 p.m. on Saturday and 1:30 p.m. on Sunday. Upgrades to one the Crash Zone pre-show parties held during the matinee performances are available at the time of ticket purchase. The pre-show allows an opportunity to take photos and get a close-up feel of the Monster Trucks, meetings with drivers, sessions for VIP autographs and other special awards and promotions. Go to hotwheelsmonstertruckslive.com to buy tickets.

January 11-12 • Ring in the New Year with Mariachi Aztlán in concert at the UTRGV Performing Arts Complex in Edinburg. Performances will be at 7 p.m. on Friday and 2 p.m. on Saturday. General admission is $10 and $5 for seniors and students. Go to patron.utrgv.com for tickets. For special accommodations, call 956-665-3881.

January 19 • The Upper Valley Art League (UVAL) will host a basic pamphlet and sketchbook-mak-

ing class led by Hidalgo Watercolor Society and UVAL member Paula Ranney from 9 a.m. to 12 noon. Cost $10 plus a $10 materials charge. Class is limited to 20 students.

UVAL is located in the Kika de la Garza Fine Arts Center, 921 E. 12th St., Mission. Call 956-583-2787 for more info.

• The International Museum of Art & Science (IMAS) will open the internationally acclaimed Symphony of Color exhibition in association with the Hermes Music Foundation, the Secretaria de Cultura en Mexico, and the Festival de Música Contemporánea para un Mundo Mejor. In conjunction with the exhibition, the IMAS will be offering workshops led by Huichol artists. The exhibition is included with the price of regular admission.

The museum is located at 1900 W. Nolana in McAllen. Call 956-681-2800 for more information.

January 19-22, 25-26 • Nikki Rowe High School presents the musical, “Anything Goes,” at 2 p.m. on Jan. 19, 20 and 26 and 7 p.m. Jan. 21, 22 and 25.

Senior discount are offered for the shows on Jan. 19 to 22. For tickets or more information, call 956-632-5152.

(For more Coming Attractions, go to ptrgv.com)

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BROWNSVILLE – It has been 45 years since the Gladys Porter Zoo has last cared for rhinoceros hornbills. In 1971, the Zoo acquired two male rhino hornbills, but after a brief period one was transferred to another zoo in 1972, and the other was transferred the following year.

The Gladys Porter Zoo is now home to two endangered rhinoceros hornbills.

The birds, a male and female, and arrived from Sacramento Zoo on Oct. 27. After undergoing the standard quarantine period, the pair is making their debut in the newly renovated Indo-Australian Aviary.

These birds are native to the rain forests of Malaysia, Sumatra, Java and Indonesia. Being one of the largest species of hornbills, they also have one of the largest casques, a hollow “hornlike” feature above their beaks, which is formed from the same material as fingernails (keratin). The rhinoceros hornbill’s casque isn’t just about having good looks – the structure is thought to amplify the hornbill’s calls so they can be heard from a distance. This is a feature shared with duckbilled-dinosaurs, also known as hadrosaurids, which existed more than 60 million years ago.

lines of Mission High School and Veterans Memorial High School, the entourage created a fanfare of attention while making the surprise visits.

A total of seven scholarships in the amount of $1,000 were handed out to district employees who are continuing with their education. Those employees receiving the scholarships included Beatriz Vasquez, central office; Jose Gutierrez and Barbara Gonzalez, Pearson Elementary; Lorena Lopez, Mission High; Gisela Ramos, O’Grady Elementary; Guadalupe Saenz, Mims Elementary; and Erica Kristine Santana, R. Cantu Jr. High.

There were also seven $1,000 mini grants presented to employees who have special plans and projects to benefit students and student learning. The mini grants went to Lina I. Candelaria, Pearson Elementary; Adrian Chapa, K. White Jr. High; Sandra Ornelas and Diana Guzman, Mims Elementary; Timothy Ferren, Veterans Memorial High; Janice Vega, Escobar/Rios Elementary; and Miguel Moreno, Alton Memorial Jr. High.

The Education Foundation of Mission CISD holds fundraising activities throughout the year to provide the funds for scholarships and grants. The education foundation will also provide scholarships for graduating seniors towards the end of the school year.

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UVAL hosts Jan. 17 acrylic painting class

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For the latest news and updates

January 4, 2019

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MHM to host RGV agriculture program The Mission Historical Museum will host Brad Cowan, county agriculture extension agent, in a program, “Agriculture in the Rio Grande Valley,” on Saturday, Jan. 12, at 11 a.m. at the museum, 900 Doherty.

Admission is free and open to the public.

Agriculture has long roots in the Rio Grande Valley, significantly impacting the culture and economy. Despite challenges and adversities

from insects, weather and market prices, agriculture in South Texas continues to grow.

Cowan is a third generation County Agricultural Extension Agent. He received his bachelor’s and master’s degree from Texas A&M University. He is currently responsible for educational programs and applied research in cotton, corn, grain sorghum, sugarcane, sunflowers, emerging crops,

beef cattle, forages, irrigation technology and water conservation in production agriculture.

Cowan also assists other county faculty with the Leadership Advisory Board, commercial vegetables, citrus, urban horticulture, community development and 4-H programs.

For more information, call 956-580-8646 or go to missionmuseum.org.

Program covers RGV amphibian, reptile ecology McALLEN – Learn about the native amphibians and reptiles in the Rio Grande Valley at Quinta Mazatlán World Birding Center on Thursday, Jan. 10, at 6 p.m.

Dr. Frederic Zaidan III, M.S., Ph.D. from the College of Sciences from the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley is the guest speaker.

He will discuss the facts and ecology of introduced amphibians and reptiles in the Rio Grande Valley.

Dr. Zaidan is the associate dean for Student Success at the College of Science at UTRGV. His research focuses on understanding the environment-physiology in-

teraction that shapes the distribution of organisms.

His research interests are focused on the mechanisms that establish geographical

range limits under sub-lethal conditions, geographic variations in physiological traits, hibernation ecology and how current allocation strategies may be used to predict future responses as a global climate changes.

Quinta Mazatlán is located 600 Sunset in McAllen.

Call 956-681-3370 for information.

Breaking the migrating cycle

A recent trip to Austin allowed Mission C.I.S.D. migrant high school students the opportunity to broaden their knowledge in College Assistance Migrant Programs (CAMP). The programs are an effort to help first-generation migrant farmworker students break the cycle of migrating through higher education. St. Edward’s University in Austin is home to one of those programs. Students from Veterans Memorial High School, Mission High School and Mission Collegiate High School were given a tour by campus staff and St. Edward’s University CAMP director Dr. Perla Delgado who gave them a charge to pursue higher education. Students also had the opportunity to hear testimony from former CAMP participants, tour the campus and make a quick stop at the state capitol.

Dr. Frederic Zaidan

EVENTS

CALENDAR

January 5 – Benito and Toni Treviño will present a program on “Traditional Uses of Native Plants” at 10 a.m. at Bentsen-Rio Grande Valley State Park. Learn about the medicinal and historical uses of plants as ethnobotanist Benito Treviño. Thre Treviños are owners of Rancho Lomtias Native Plant Nursery with over 800,000 native plants used for native landscapes and restoration projects throughout the state. Admission is free. The program will be presented in the park’s meeting room, 2800 S. Bentsen Palm Drive in Mission. Call 956-584-9156 for further information.

January 8 - The wrap-up meeting of Amigos de Los Niños de Mexico organization begins at 1:30 p.m. at the First Methodist Church, 228 S. Main St. in Donna to elect new officers and board members. The group gives children a better Christmas each year. For questions, contact Ted Schnase at 956-9007720; Jane Phillips, 816-797-3735; or Carol Schnase, 956-3328855.

January 12 – Dr. Timothy Brush, biology professor at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley Edinburg campus will present “What is Ornithology?” at Bentsen-Rio Grande Valley State Park. It begins at 10 a.m. in the meeting room, 2800 S. Bentsen Palm Drive, Mission. Admission is free. Brush studies the ecology and conservation of birds of the riparian corridor along the lower Rio Grande River. Call 956-584-9156 for further information.

January 18 – The Mission Historical Museum’s “Turning of the Quilts” program will be presented as part of the awards ceremony at the 13th Annual Mission Quilt Show at the Mission Historical Museum at 2 p.m. The quilts are presented stacked on a bed. As each quilt is shown, it is turned down to reveal the next quilt, until all have been presented by a knowledgeable presenter explaining the historical details of the quilt. The Mission Historical Museum is located at 900 Doherty and 200 E. Tom Landry, in Mission. Admission is free. For more information, call the museum at 956-580-8646.

January 19 – Listen to “Stories from Texas” with W.F. Strong at Bentsen-Rio Grande Valley State Park at 10 a.m. in the meeting room, 2800 S. Bentsen Palm Drive, Mission. Strong is a “student of all things Texas,” including the dialect, unique nature and larger than life Texans from politicians to sports figures, and praise for Texas iconic brands from Whataburger to Southwest Airlines. Admission is free. Call 956-584-9156 for further information.

January 19 – The third annual Food Bank RGV Farm Dinner runs from 5 to 9 p.m. at 724 N. Cage Blvd., Pharr.

The dinner will be a five course meal featuring gourmet cuisine with all food and drink locally sourced. Tickets are $125 per person and are available at foodbankrgv.com. The Farm Dinner fundraiser benefits Gem Valley Farm, the Food Bank RGV Community Garden. The community garden provides chemical-free produce to clients and the community while teaching habits for a healthier life. For more information, contact Chris Bueno, at 956-904-4525 or by email at chbueno@ foodbankrgv.com.

(For more Events, go to ptrgv.com.)

Hope it’s a blast, from the first day to the last!

May the coming year be filled with peace, prosperity and plenty of good times.

Happy New Year!

Norberto “Beto” Salinas POLITICAL AD PAID BY MAYOR BETO SALINAS CAMPAIGN

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January 4, 2019

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Ramon Garcia on the law library to be named in his honor

By Jamie Treviño After serving three terms as a Hidalgo County Judge, Ramon Garcia is ready to go back to practicing law fulltime.

At a recent Commissioners Court meeting in Hidalgo County, the law library in the new courthouse was dedicated to Garcia. Upon completion of construction, Garcia’s name will be above the entrance to the library.

Garcia, who has practiced law for over 40 years, was surprised to hear about the dedication, as he was not involved in the naming process.

“They just let me know it was going to happen a few days before,” Garcia said, noting that the Commissioners Court voted on it. “I wasn’t expecting it.”

He was elected to office in 2003, served one term, then successfully ran again in 2010. As of Dec. 31, 2018, Garcia officially retired from the judge’s bench.

“It really has to do with public service,” Garcia said.

“For whatever reason, I always saw myself as being involved in public service.”

In 1981, he ran for a state senate seat, where he came within 243 votes from winning the election. In 1994, he ran for the Chair of the County Democratic Party and won, serving as County Chair through the time he ran for and won the county judge position.

When Garcia was elected as a county judge, the reserve account for the county was at $710,000. By the time he left office at the end of 2018, it was at approximately $38 million.

Garcia cites fiscal responsibility as the main issue he ran on in 2002. With the find balance staying at $710,000 with three consecutive years of tax increases, Garcia knew building the reserve was vital for the county.

“We were basically broke at that point in time,” Garcia said. “One good rain would have left us without any savings at all.”

He said they had to get involved and “exercise fiscal

Photo courtesy of the Hidalgo County Court Report.

Department heads, County Judge’s staff and Orlando Garcia (holding a plaque), pose with the Commissioners Court in honor of County Judge Ramon Garcia, who left office Dec. 31 after 13 years of service during three terms as County Judge. responsibility” in the way the county government was operated. Through several budgetary changes, including self-funding the employee’s workers compensation and health insurance, the county was able to accumulate and save $38 million in the fund balance.

Garcia spearheaded the efforts toward the new county courthouse project, which is now in construction and is more than 28 percent complete at the time of press. He considers the project a vital endeavor for Hidalgo County.

“There’s a tremendous need for that building,” Garcia said. “Until people start using the courthouse, they don’t really appreciate the inadequate facility that we are working with.”

Inadequate, he says, because it was built in 1954, when the population of the county was at about 165,000 with three existing courts.

Today, the population is at over one million people, with 25 courts.

“We need to accommodate them,” Garcia said.

“More than half of our county courts-at-law are in those temporary facilities. We have a district court that is located here in an alley behind my office.”

He understands the need for a new courthouse, because, “if nothing else,” he is a lawyer, and after work-

ing in the county for over 40 years he has noticed and experienced the issues associated with the present building.

The new courthouse will feature an expanded new law library, which was recently announced to be named in Garcia’s honor.

“Obviously, I was grateful to the commissioners for what they did,” Garcia said.

“I feel very honored that they’re doing this and giving me this recognition, but I didn’t seek it.”

A law library, found an any courthouse facility, is where lawyers go to find the law and argue that law to the judges. Garcia has one in his law office, but says having access to a more open library in the new courthouse is necessary.

“I’ve tried a lot of cases, several hundred cases,” Garcia said. “Invariably, when you’re in the courthouse, you need access to the law, and that’s where the law library comes in. It makes it more accessible.”

According to Garcia, serving as a judge took time away from his clients. Now that he is not seeking re-election, he intends to continue to practice law. Garcia is looking forward to returning full-time.

“Every case is important,” Garcia said. “I’ve always took pride in being prepared for my trials, and I’ve handled cases in over 20

states across the country, but I wouldn’t focus on any one in particular.”

Heading to the law library would be crucial for Garcia every time he worked a case in other states in particular,

because he needed to consult the various state laws for each location, as they varied.

While he is stepping down from the judge’s position, Garcia is not stopping his practice any time soon.

“If you’re doing something that you like, that you enjoy doing, like I am and have been throughout my professional career, why stop?” Garcia said.

New year, new judge for Hidalgo County

By Dave Hendricks Hidalgo County Judge Richard Cortez didn’t waste any time Wednesday morning.

Moments after taking the oath of office — administered by his cousin, state District Judge Israel Ramon Jr., in the Hidalgo County Commissioners Court meeting room in Edinburg — Cortez addressed the standing-room-only crowd that arrived to congratulate him.

The Rio Grande Valley is unique, Cortez said, with opportunities and challenges that don’t exist anywhere else.

“Who decides whether it’s a strength or a weakness?” Cortez said. “We do.”

Cortez, who keeps a close eye on economic trends, didn’t bore the audience with details.

A report published last month by the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas, though, compared the county to other major metropolitan areas in Texas.

Hidalgo County’s population is the youngest of any major metro area in Texas, with the largest share of residents under 15 years old, according to the report. The county struggles with poverty and poor educational outcomes. Just 18 percent of the population holds a bachelor’s degree.

Trade with Mexico and the local retail economy, which depends on cross-border shopping, insulated Hidalgo County from the reces-

sion. It also makes the county vulnerable to international trade disputes and currency fluxuations.

The county provides a wide array of services to a wide array of people, Cortez said, underscoring the importance of efficient, effective government.

“Many lives are impacted by county government,” Cortez said. “If you have a mentally ill person, county government will touch your life. If you have flooding in your colonia, county government will touch your life.

If you are sick and poor and have no insurance, county government will touch your life. If you’ve been wronged by someone, county government will touch your life. If you’re concerned about your safety, about your property in rural areas, county government will play a role.”

“Why do I say this?” Cortez added. “Because county government is important.

But what is even more important is how and what we do with it.”

Ricardo “Richard” F. Cortez, 75, of McAllen, a retired accountant who served two terms as mayor, emerged as the consensus candidate in September 2017, when County Judge Ramon Garcia decided not to run for re-election.

After defeating former Hidalgo County Judge Eloy Pulido in the Democratic Party primary, Cortez dispatched Republican challenger Jane Cross on Election Day, winning more than 70 percent of

ballots cast.

Cortez brings decades of government experience to the job.

He started on the McAllen Public Utility Board, an elected board that supervises water and sewer service in McAllen. He served two terms as mayor, part of a team that steered McAllen through the recession. And after retiring in 2013, he returned to the City Commission to represent District 1, which covers northeast McAllen.

Cortez also served as president of the Border Trade Alliance and as a member of the International Bank of Commerce-McAllen advisory board.

After winning the election, he quietly put together a staff that mixed familiar faces from McAllen with longtime county employees recommended by other elected officials.

After the swearing-in ceremony, Cortez thanked Garcia for his support.

“He was a tremendous county judge,” Cortez said.

“I want to thank him for his years of service.”

Governing requires tough decisions, Cortez said, adding that the county must be fiscally conservative but remember that growing revenue, not cutting costs, is the way to maintain a healthy budget.

“Together, we’re not only going to make this county as best it can be,” Cortez said.

“We are going to make it the best county.”

Progress times photo by Jose De Leon III.

Juan “J.J.” Peña (right) is sworn into office as Hidalgo County Justice of the Peace Precinct 3 Place 2 at a ceremony Tuesday, Jan. 1, 2018.

J.J. Peña sworn to Precinct 3 office

By Jose De Leon III The New Year brought in the swearing in of new county officials, including the Hidalgo County Precinct 3 office.

Juan “J.J.” Peña was sworn in as Hidalgo County Justice of the Peace for the Precinct 3 Place 2 office at a ceremony held Tuesday at the Precinct 3 Commissioner’s Office.

Peña, a businessman who served as a municipal judge for Palmview for six years and served two consecutive terms as a school board trustee for the La Joya school district, thanked those in attendance for their support in his campaign.

“I want to thank each and every one of you not only for being here today and for being here for me this past year and a half,” Peña told the standing-room only crowd.

“All of you never stopped believing in me and what I stand for. I believe I will do what is right for the citizens of Precinct 3 and Hidalgo County.”

Peña announced his candidacy for office September 2017, beating out incumbent Marcos Ochoa in the March 2018 Democratic primary

and tax preparer and immigration consultant Arminda “Mindy” Garza during the November 2018 general election with 68 percent of the votes.

The swearing in was attended by supporters and local officials with Father Roy Snipes of Our Lady of Guadalupe Church leading the crowd in prayer at the start of the ceremony. State Representative Sergio Muñoz Jr. officiated the ceremony with Peña’s wife and two daughters at his side.

As Justice of the Peace, Peña says his office handle “fine only” offense inquests, evictions, and small claims under $10,000 from west of Taylor Road all the way to the Hidalgo County and Starr County Line.

“It’s something I’ve wanted to do,” Peña said at his swearing-in ceremony. “As a former municipal judge and school board member, I made just decisions and served the community, it’s what I want to keep doing.”

Peña says as Justice of the Peace, he plans to extend office hours to better serve the community.

His office is typically open on weekdays from 8 a.m. through 4:30 p.m. and

closed for lunch from 12 pm through 1 p.m. Peña says he plans to hold new hours where once a week his office will be open during lunch and hold court on Saturday once a month.

The finalized schedule for his office will be available Monday when the new schedule is set to take effect, Peña said.

“Having the office closed for lunch makes it difficult for people to come in because they have infractions they want to take care of but like everyone else, they have to work and we’re closed when they’re available,” Peña said. “I’d like my staff to hit the ground running in the new year and work as efficiently as possible to prevent a backlog of cases.”

Ultimately, Peña said, his office will be open to serve his community.

“People don’t go to see a judge because they’re having a great day, they come because they need help,” Peña told the crowd. “As public servants, we’re here to extend a helping hand in a time of need. You have a friend in this court, I am here to serve each and every one of you.”

Photo courtesy of Hidalgo County State District Judge Israel Ramon Jr. administers the oath of office to his cousin, Hidalgo County Judge Ricardo F. “Richard” Cortez, 75, of McAllen, on Wednesday, Jan. 2, at the Hidalgo County Commissioners Court meeting room in Edinburg.

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Missing McAllen man found dead in Alton

By Jose De Leon III A body was pulled from a detention pond in Alton on Christmas Day, making it the second such discovery in Alton in the last three months.

Alton police were called to the 600 block of North Mexico Street where they found a man in a nearby detention pond. The man was later identified as McAllen resident Eustacio Christian Mireles, 25, who was reported missing last November.

“We’re still working on the investigation,” Alton police Chief Jonathan Flores said. “We’re not releasing more details to protect the integrity of the case.”

Mireles was reported missing Nov. 17 and was last seen around the 200 Block

of 39th Street in McAllen, according to a news release from the city which also said there was concern for his well-being.

“There was concern from Mireles’ family because they hadn’t heard from him,” Flores said, adding that investigators with Alton PD got together with McAllen police investigators to learn more background on Mireles. “It was unlike his family to not hear from him and they became concerned.”

Flores could not say whether or not Mireles had friends and family near where he was found or how long he was in the water for, adding that investigators are still waiting for toxicology results for Mireles.

When asked if Mireles

detention had a criminal pond about record of any half a mile kind, Flores said “McAllen north of the PD had interpond where Mireles was actions with found.

Mr. Mireles in Flores the past” and declined to said the inclarify. vestigation on Barajas A request ruled that for comhis death ment from the McAllen was acciPD was unredental and turned as of the result of Barajas press time.

Esutacio Mireles and a friend This marks fleeing the the second such incident in the city of scene of an attempted breakAlton in the past year. in that occurred the night beLast August, divers with fore Barajas disappeared. the Mission Police Depart“Officers responded to a ment pulled the body of Elias call of someone attempting Barajas, 18, of Mission in a to break into a vehicle near

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that area and when police arrived, the man who called police said he spooked the two individuals and they ran to the vicinity of the lake,” Flores said. “Our investigation led to that conclusion that Barajas was one of those individuals. The forensic pathologist declared it an accidental drowning and through the course of our investigation we agreed with those findings.”

Flores said that he and the city are in discussions of looking into adding more safety measures for these ponds, something Flores said is routine for incidents like this.

The pond Barajas was found in was fenced off, Flores said, adding that there’s no easy access to

go in there and that Barajas would’ve had to climb the fence to arrive at the pond with a depth of 25 feet.

The pond where Mireles was found in, meanwhile, isn’t covered in fencing but its location is well known and is surrounded by street lights, Flores said.

“It’s not hidden by any means,” he said. “But every time something like this happens we look and see if there’s anything that needs to be done to aid in the safety of the community. Aside from these two incidents, this is a rare occurrence. This is not something that usually happens.”

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January 4, 2019

Sports week

BIG7 SCHOOLS

page 6

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Covering Mission, Veterans Memorial, Sharyland, Pioneer, La Joya, Palmview & Juarez-Lincoln Sports

Pioneer welcomes 2019 with New Year’s Day wins over Mission Veterans

By Bryan Ramos

The Pioneer Diamondbacks and Lady Diamondbacks are off to a soaring start in 2019 as the two basketball teams spent their New Year’s Day on the court bringing home big district wins over Mission Veterans, 80-48 for the boys, and 4031 for the girls.

Both programs are rolling through district play early on and have the potential to be two of the top teams, not just in 31-5A, but across the Valley, when it’s all said and done.

Lady Diamondbacks The Pioneer Lady Diamondbacks (4-0 in 31-5A) are off to the best district start in school history as they’ve put together four straight wins to open 31-5A play.

The Lady Diamondbacks and Head Coach Nicole Villarreal have taken steps forward by beating two playoff squads from a season ago in Palmview and Mission Veterans, and are looking like a team that could lead the district championship race all year long.

“They’re humble and they know there’s a lot of work that still needs to be done, but I do think that we’re all on the same page in regards to it’s our time,” said Villarreal. “We’ve been short before, getting better every year, but we feel like this is our year.”

The Lady Diamondbacks proved they’re contenders

Progress Times Photo by: Mario Magallon.

#12 Lady Diamondback, Audry Hornaday, dribbles past Lady Patriot defender #11, Ronnie Cantu. with a 40-31 victory against Mission Veterans on New Year’s Day. Midway through the 4th quarter, the Lady Patriots trimmed Pioneer’s lead to just four points. That’s when sophomore guard Audry Hornaday turned things up, scoring five of her gamehigh 16 points in the final quarter to lock up the fourth straight district win for the Lady Diamondbacks.

Hornaday spent the first three quarters picking her spots to attack and setting up teammates for an easy two.

When the game got close, Hornaday, who can get her shot off at any time from anywhere on the court, took

over.

“I feel like sometimes it’s harder for teams when I can shoot or I can facilitate really well to my teammates, which is something I love to do,” Hornaday said. “I love to pass the ball, it’s such a fun thing to do and find your teammates open and get them that quick easy score.”

The good thing about this Pioneer team is it’s not just Hornaday you have to stop.

Villarreal and the Lady Diamondbacks receive contributions from seniors like Abby Jones and Alicia Martinez , while underclassmen like freshman Jordan Bravo and sophomores Danielle Rangel and Carly Hornaday play key

Progress Times Photo by: Mario Magallon.

Lavar Lindo, #32 of Pioneer, towers over Veterans Memorial defenders as he shoots for 2 points. roles.

“We had a very tough preseason and played some good district opponents as well, so now we’re confident,” said Audry Hornaday after the win over Mission Veterans.

“At this point, we’re very confident in each other, very confident in our coaches in getting us to where we want to be; that’s winning district and making it to the playoffs for the first time in school history.”

The Lady Diamondbacks will be looking to keep their unbeaten district record intact on Friday, Jan. 4 as they face PSJA Memorial at 1 p.m. at PSJA Memorial High School in Alamo.

Diamondbacks They’ll outrun you, they’ll outgun you, and they’ll lock you down.

That’s what the Pioneer Diamondbacks did on New Year’s Day with a 80-48 win over the Mission Veterans Patriots to move to 2-0 in 315A action.

The Diamondbacks scored 22 points in three of the four quarters against the Patriots and finished with four players putting up double figures as Luke Padilla, Lavar Lindo and Miguelangel Gonzalez scored 14 points a piece. More impressive than the balanced offensive performance was how the Pioneer defense success-

fully game planned to hold Mission Veterans’ high-scoring guard Noe Cantu to just two points.

“We told our guys that we have to key on Noe, and we have to D him up and do our jobs in boxing out and pushing the ball up-court, trying to make them play our style of basketball,” said Pioneer Head Coach Rene Gonzalez.

“The intensity starts in practice and it starts with our defense; we drill it to death and so far so good.”

With six players over 6 feet tall, four of them being starters, Pioneer poses a problem for any opponent.

Add in the team’s athleticism and they can beat you in a number of ways. It’s a stark contrast from the young team the Diamondbacks rolled out that missed the playoffs a season ago.

“We’ve matured and there’s more chemistry,” said Padilla, a senior guard.

“It comes from a lot of hard work during the summer, playing together and getting shots up every single day.

When we play like this we can put up 80 points in any game. The sky is the limit for us, but we just have to put our mind to it.”

The Diamondbacks are set to take the court again Friday, Jan. 4 at 2:30 p.m. on the road against PSJA Memorial in Alamo with the chance to improve to 3-0 in District 31-5A play.

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January 4, 2019

By Progress Times Staff

From election scandals to history being made on the football field, the Progress Times was there to capture some of the biggest moments in 2018 that occurred in Hidalgo County.

2018 was the 46th anniversary of the Progress Times and we continued our longstanding tradition of delivering the best community news to readers.

This past year, the Progress Times was there when former city of Mission Councilman Armando “Doc” O’caña ended Norberto “Beto” Salinas’ 20-year run as Mission mayor during a June 2018 runoff election. A few months later, the Progress Times would break the news that Salinas filed a lawsuit against O’caña accusing the newly elected mayor of election fraud. Citing evidence of voter tampering, state District Judge J. Bonner Dorsey would then void the results of the election at the end of a two-week long trial

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A year in review

last October.

O’Caña and his attorneys immediately appealed the decision to the 13th Court of Appeals and remains mayor of Mission.

The city of Mission wasn’t the only city hit by an election scandal in 2018.

Last November, the city

of Palmview swore in a new mayor, Ricardo “Ricky” Villarreal, an assistant superintendent at the La Joya Independent School District.

Villarreal was sworn in after running unopposed in the city council election and his election was declared improper by the Texas Secre-

page 7

tary of State’s Office after he was elected without a single vote for him.

The city of Palmview was advised to call for a special election but Villareal filed a lawsuit against the city Dec. 14 to prevent them from call-

See YEAR IN REVIEW Pg.12

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January 4, 2019

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Mission hires federal representation to extend Presidential Permit

By Jamie Treviño During a special called meeting held last Thursday, council voted and approved the hiring of H.R. Bert Peña to provide Mission with federal representation in Washington, D.C. in order to extend the city’s presidential permit.

The item was tabled at the last regular called city council meeting, as a few council members had questions regarding the agreement. Peña will now provide representation at the U.S. Department of State in order to help secure an extension of the presidential permit an additional ten years (it is set to expire in 2021).

The agreement will be “for a period not to exceed three months or no later than March 31, 2019 at a compensation of $5,000 per month.”

Any services provided by Peña after that three month limit would be on an “as needed” basis at the rate of $200 per hour.

After meeting again, council voted to approve the consulting services agree-

ment with Peña. They hope to have an idea about the permit some time in March or April of this year, and will take steps from there.

At a workshop held the day before the special meeting, council spoke about a proposed Madero Bridge action plan that would span over ten years. Until the request for the Presidential Permit extension is granted, the city cannot move forward.

The extension is part of the process, according to acting City Manager Randy Perez.

Mayor and council also held a workshop this Wednesday morning, where they went over seven potential amendments and ordinances to be further discussed and recommended for approval at the next city council meetings. None of the proposed amendments or ordinances have been approved or voted on.

Jaime Acevedo, the Planning Director for Mission, presented all the items at the workshop.

Three of the items on

the workshop agenda included amendments to planning fees, building permit fees and park fees. Mission compared the fees to those of other cities, and decided to make adjustments, as the planning fees alone had not been changed since 2004.

“We’ll be under or at what other cities are charging,” Acevedo said. “We’re not exceeding what other cities charge.”

The planning fees for rezoning, conditional use permits, mailout radius for business entities, single lot variances, homestead exemption variances, subdivision filings and reviews, separate subdivision variances, flood zone letters, separation verification for lending institutions, credit access business registration certificates, sign variances, business licenses and certificates of occupancy and park fees will be proposed to increase at the next council meeting.

“It is going to be an additional cost to the developers, to the citizens, for a lot of these fees,” Acevedo said.

“But, we’re trying to make a

change since it’s been 14, 15 years since these fees have been touched.”

The city is also going to recommend increases to certain building permit fees.

“This has to do with the permit fees that the subcontractors, the electricians, the plumbers, the fees that they come in and pull,” Acevedo said. “The bottom line is, if someone comes in and gets a plumbing permit, they are going to see an increase of maybe $35 or $40 from what they’re accustomed to paying; this goes for the electricians, for the plumbers, and for the air conditioning peo-

ple that are coming in and pulling permits.”

The change in park fees, which are usually charged through the planning board, were discussed also with the Parks and Recreation Department. Director Brad Bentsen said that the parks board had been talking about raising the fees for several months.

Park fees (specifically for park land development) have remained at $300 since the last revision in May 2005.

Before that, they had been at $200 since 1986.

“This isn’t something that we periodically come in and

revise, we usually go a pretty good term without having to revise the fees,” Acevedo said. “The city of McAllen is charging $700 per lot fee. We’re currently at $300, we’re asking to be at $400.”

The park fee changes still have to be presented to the planning and zoning committee, so this item will not be voted on until the second city council meeting in Jan. “The whole purpose of it is that land has gotten so costly,” Bentsen said. “Kids don’t really have a place to play at in their yards anymore. It allows development for more park land.”

United Committee of Sullivan City closes out the year

By Jose De Leon III As a show of appreciation to its dozens of supporters, the United Committee of Sullivan City held an appreciation dinner for them late last month in Mission.

Held at the Casa del Taco restaurant Saturday, Dec. 22,

the United Committee of Sullivan City used the dinner as a way to celebrate its accomplishments this year.

“We are very excited for this event. We work really hard and will plan our next fundraiser for January,” committee President Hermelinda Salinas said.

The committee is a group that split up from La Joya’s political coalition Citizens Working Together, or CWT, Salinas said. The committee was created two years ago with the purpose of raising

funds for the children in Sullivan City.

“Everything was always politics there and we didn’t want that,” Salinas said. “So we began to raise money for the community and kids there. It’s a yearly process.

We start with bingo games, we sell benefit plates and even go to one of our busiest streets with a bucket for people to put donations in. This year was even better than last year.”

See SULLIVAN CITY Pg. 12

January 4, 2019

obituaries Maria Alvarez MISSION – Maria De La Luz Alvarez, 68, passed away on Friday, Dec. 28, 2018, at Mission Regional Medical Center.

Survivors include her children, Ruben Alvarez Jr., Alfredo Alvarez and Crystal Lozano; sister, Laura Vela; and 10 grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Ruben Alvarez Sr.; mother, Elma Villarreal; and sister, Juanita Acevedo.

A funeral service was held on Jan. 3 at Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church in Mission. Burial followed at Garden of Angels Cemetery in Abram.

George Buhl MISSION – George U. Buhl, 84, passed away on Thursday, Dec. 20, 2018, at his home in Mission.

Mr. Buhl was born in Iona Township, Minn., and lived in Mission since 2000.

Survivors include his wife, Dorothy Buhl; children, Beverly Dimmen, Patty Buhl, Cay Peloquin, Michael Buhl, Robert Buhl and Peter Buhl; siblings, Mary Perez, Theresa Auge and Peter Buhl; and 19 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by a son, Gregory Buhl; parents, Emma Lucas and Peter Buhl; and brother, Raymond Buhl.

A memorial service was held on Dec. 28 at Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church in Mission. His remains were interred at Fort Snelling National Cemetery in Minneapolis.

Margarita De La Garza MISSION – Margarita De La Garza, 62, passed away on Tuesday, Dec. 18, 2018, at Mission Regional Medical Center.

Survivors include her husband, Rodolfo De La Garza; children, Juan Jose

De La Garza, Sandra De La Garza and Sonia De La Garza; mother, Esther Treviño; siblings, Jaime Treviño, Jose Santos Treviño, Ana Ramirez, Alma Treviño, Melva Ysaguirre, Baudelia Marron, Ceci Treviño and Felix Treviño Jr.; and seven grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her father, Felix Treviño.

A funeral mass was held on Dec. 21 at Our Lady of the Holy Rosary Catholic Church in Mission. Burial followed at Valley Memorial Gardens Cemetery in Mission.

Librado Garcia MISSION – Librado Salinas Garcia, 88, passed away on Tuesday, Dec. 25, 2018 at Senior Care in Edinburg.

He served in the Air Force and was a veteran of Korean War. He was a member of Iglesia Bautista Getsemani.

Survivors include his wife of 63 years, Josephine Saenz Garcia; son, Dr. Hiram L. Garcia; and two grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Emilio and Sara Garcia, and brothers, Emilio Garcia Jr. and Eduardo P. Garcia.

A funeral service was held on Dec. 31 at Funeraria Del Angel in Mission. Burial followed at Rio Grande Valley State Veterans Cemetery in Mission.

Jorge De Alba MISSION – Jorge Ramirez De Alba, 79, passed away on Wednesday, Dec. 19, 2018, at Mission Regional Medical Center.

Survivors include his children, Raquelin, Jorge and Claudia.

A funeral mass was held on Dec. 21 at Holy Spirit Catholic Church in McAllen.

Aurora Rodriguez MISSION – Aurora “Golla” S. Rodriguez passed away on Sunday, Dec. 23, 2018.

Mrs. Rodriguez was born in San Perlita, and raised in Hargil and McCook. She graduated from Edinburg High School.

Survivors include her husband of 61 years, Onesimo Rodriguez Jr. of Palmhurst; children, Lydia Rodriguez of McAllen, Hugo Rodriguez of Helotes, Imelda Arriaga of Mission, Sylvia Guevara of Palmhurst, Onesimo Rodriguez III of Palmhurst and Jose Rodriguez of Harlingen; siblings, Damiana Cano, Bene Salazar, Ruben Salazar and Guadalupe Salazar; and 12 grandchildren and 10 great grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her father, Bernardo Salazar; mother, Celia Salazar; son, Javier Rodriguez; and siblings Estela Garza, Bernardo Salazar and Casimiro Salazar.

A funeral mass was held on Dec. 28 at St. Paul’s Catholic Church in Mission. Burial followed at Rio Grande Valley State Veterans Cemetery.

Maria Saavedra PALMVIEW – Maria Eulalia “Lala” Saavedra, 77, passed away Saturday, Dec. 22, 2018, at McAllen Medical Center.

Mrs. Saavedra was a native of Benavides. She worked and retired from the Migrant Department with the La Joya I.S.D. Survivors include her husband of 60 years, Jose Saavedra; children, Ludivina (Erasmo Gonzalez) Saavedra of Benavides, Leonora Garcia of Mission, Jose Saavedra of Mission; sisters, Idolina Saenz and Umbelina Heras of Benavides; and six grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

A funeral mass was held on Dec. 27 at Our Lady Queen of Angels Catholic Church in La Joya. Burial followed at L & I Cemetery in Palmview.

Patricia Salazar MISSION – Patricia G. McClure Salazar, 75, passed away on Saturday, Dec. 29, 2018, at her home in Mission. Mrs. Salazar was born on June 10, 1943, in

Arab, Ala., to Clarence Clayden McClure and Margaret Theresa Bailey McClure. She was a graduate of Edcouch-Elsa High School.

Survivors include her children, Elizabeth Lyssy of McCook, Dan Broyles of McCook, Chad Broyles of Novice, Shana Mettlach of Mission and Jeremy Salazar of Odessa; brother, Dr. CH McClure; and nine grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

Her life will be celebrated on Friday, Jan. 4, from 2 to 5 p.m. at Funeraria Del Angel Highland Funeral Home in Weslac. A wake will follow at Ciro’s Restaurant in Weslaco at 5:30 p.m.

Maria Salinas MISSION – Maria Estella Guerra Salinas, 91, passed away on Monday, Dec. 24, 2018.

Mrs. Salinas was born on July 20, 1927, in Mission to Pedro and Librada (Castro) Guerra. She was raised in Mission and graduated from Mission High School in 1945.

During her career, she worked at the Pharr-San Juan-Alamo and Mission schools tax offices, Region One Education Service Center, and was the La Joya I.S.D. business manager. She then went on to work for the Texas Rehabilitation Commission where she retired after 15 years of employment.

Active in the Mission community, she served as election judge and clerk for many years. She was a member of the Asociacion Guadalupaña, Catholic Daughters of the Americas, Court St. Rose of Lima No. 827, Damas Catolicas and Casa de Coto (Mission Housing Authority).

Mrs. Salinas graduated from Leadership Mission in 1989 and served on its board of officers for 12 years, holding various positions. She served as president from 1992-1994.

She was awarded the Yellow Rose of Texas certification in 1976 by then Texas Governor Dolph Briscoe for her work in the rehabilitation

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FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH 1101 Doherty • 585-1665 FREEDOM LIFE CHURCH 2214 W. Griffin Pkwy. • 519-7000 Mission GRACIA DIVINA MINISTRY 11809 N. Shary Rd. • 584-3112 GREAT OAKS COMMUNITY CHURCH 2722 N. Conway • 451-5500 Mission HERITAGE BAPTIST MCALLEN 2549 Lindbergh Ave. McAllen • 451-6358 IGLESIA ADVENTISTA DEL SEPTIMO DIA 1725 W. Griffin Parkway 581-9008 IGLESIA BAUTISTA BETANIA 851 S. Breyfogle Rd. • 585-5688 IGLESIA BAUTISTA CRISTO EL REY 1600 E. Bus. 83 - Mission IGLESIA BAUTISTA COLONIAL 3713 N. La Homa Rd. • 585-5332 IGLESIA BAUTISTA DEL VALLE 217 W. Mile 3 Rd. • 424-1602 Palmhurst IGLESIA DEL PUEBLO 7500 West Expressway 83 581-1900 IGLESIA DEL DIVINO REDENTOR 1020 North Los Ebanos Rd 585-5898

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field, was named State Secretary of the Year by the Texas Rehabilitation Secretaries in 1978 and was voted Mission’s Woman of the Year in 1992.

She was a member of Our Lady of Guadalupe Church and was certified in pastoral ministries/pastoral care with the Diocese of Brownsville.

She was a catalyst for obtaining a historical marker for the church.

According to former Mission City councilwoman Gen Long, Mrs. Salinas was instrumental in helping to create the Mission Historical Museum where she remained a member until her passing.

Survivors include her children, Nilda Paxman of McAllen, Rogelio Salinas of Mission, Cynthia Moreno of Harlingen and Hilario Xavier of McAllen; sisters, Maria Lydia Rodriguez and Elvira Delagarza; and 11 grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her former husband, Manuel Salinas; her parents; and siblings, Porfirio Guerra, Adela Saenz, Cipriano Guerra, Peter Guerra, Eva Castro, Ismael Guerra, Adan Guerra and Jose Guerra.

A funeral mass was held on Dec. 29 at Our Lady of Guadalupe Church.

Lesly Vidales MISSION – Lesly Barraza Vidales, 21, passed away on Dec. 23, 2018 at San Antonio Methodist Hospital.

Survivors include her mother Lesly L. Vidales; fatherm Abel Barraza; and brothers, Abel Barraza and Rene Barraza.

A funeral service was held on Dec. 27 at Funeraria Del Angel in Mission. Burial followed at Valley Memorial Gardens Cemetery.

Notices Felipe Bustos MISSION – Felipe Bustos, 88, passed away on Saturday, Dec. 29, 2018, at Rio Grande Regional Hospital in McAllen.

Jose Cantu MISSION – Jose Sergio Cantu, 69, passed away on Wednesday, Dec. 25, 2018, at Doctors Hospital in Edinburg.

Maria Cisneros MISSION – Maria Cisneros, 74, passed away on Sunday, Dec. 30, 2018, at Pax Villa Hospice in McAllen.

Tomas De La Rosa PEÑITAS – Tomas De La Rosa, 55, passed away on Friday, Dec. 21, 2018, at Mission Regional Medical Center.

Richard Deordio MISSION – Richard Deordio, 85, passed away on Tuesday, Dec. 18, 2018, at Mission Regional Medical Center.

Eduardo Escobedo PEÑITAS – Eduardo Escobedo, 26, passed away on Monday, Dec. 24, 2018, at Mission Regional Medical Center.

Virginia Fox MISSION – Virginia Fox, 83, passed away on Wednesday, Dec. 19, 2018, at Comfort House in McAllen.

Antonio Garcia ALTON – Antonio Garcia, 77, passed away on Sunday, Dec. 23, 2018, at McAllen Medical Center.

Juan Garza MISSION – Juan Jose Chapa Garza, 82, passed away on Thursday, Dec. 20, 2018, at Rio Grande Regional Hospital McAllen.

Jose Guerrero MISSION – Jose Guerrero, 43, passed away on Sunday, Dec. 23, 2018, at Doctors Hospital in Edinburg.

Maria Hernandez MISSION – Maria Hernandez, 89, passed away on Friday, Dec. 21, 2018, at her home in Mission.

Gerald Illerbrun MISSION – Gerald Joseph Illerbrun, 81, passed away on Tuesday, Dec. 25, 2018, in Pharr.

Juan Llanas MISSION – Juan Eduardo Llanas, 60, passed away on Saturday, Dec. 22, 2018, in McAllen.

page 10

January 4, 2019

www.ptrgv.com | www.strgv.com

from pg. 1

FELONY CHARGES

The Mission Police Department and the Hidalgo County Sheriff’s Office created the Panama Unit to target street-level drug traffickers in western Hidalgo County.

Members included Mission police Officer Jonathan Treviño, the sheriff’s son, and four deputies. They went rogue, stealing cash and drugs from criminals.

Federal agents arrested members of the Panama Unit in November 2012. Related cases sent Sheriff Treviño, his chief of staff and a commander to prison.

After the arrests, Grissom started filing lawsuits.

He represented at least four people with claims against the Panama Unit and more than a dozen deputies who accused Sheriff Treviño of retaliating against them

for political reasons.

With a few exceptions, however, the cases flopped.

Former sheriff’s Deputy Gerardo Vela hired Grissom to file a wrongful termination lawsuit against Hidalgo County. When the case stalled, Vela fired him.

“I have lost confidence in your ability to pursue this case on my behalf,” Vela wrote to Grissom, according to a copy of the letter filed in state district court.

Ten months later, when Vela accepted a $50,000 settlement from the county, Grissom filed a lawsuit, claiming Vela owed him 40 percent of the money.

That prompted a messy back-and-forth over the settlement.

Despite clear instructions from a federal judge, Grissom attempted to stop Hidal-

go County from making the settlement payment. Grissom wanted the money set aside until he resolved the dispute with Vela.

“Once you’ve been fired in that way, you typically don’t sue,” said attorney Javier Peña, who represented Vela, adding later: “Especially when it’s all been laid out on the record in front of a federal judge.”

Grissom also filed a lawsuit on behalf of Elizabeth Moore, who claimed that members of the Panama Unit kicked down her door and arrested her without probable cause.

Mission and Hidalgo County filed motions to dismiss the lawsuit. When Grissom didn’t respond, U.S. District Judge Micaela Alvarez granted the motions.

“It is unfortunate for the

Plaintiff that her lawyer did not take the time to respond to the instant motions. The Court cannot say whether her claims would still have been dismissed, but the fact that the Court has been given nothing to consider in response to Defendants’ motions is an egregious error on the part of Plaintiff’s attorney,” Alvarez wrote. “The Court believes Plaintiff has suffered a great disservice at the hands of her attorney.”

Grissom also had problems with the State Bar of Texas. Disciplinary records show at least two public reprimands and three judgments against him.

As a result of the judgments, Grissom sent a letter to the Hidalgo County probate court in August 2017, notifying the judge that he couldn’t practice law until

March 31, 2019.

The criminal charges against Grissom — three felonies and two misdemeanors — resulted from an incident in January 2015.

Grissom accepted $2,500 from a woman who wanted to file a lawsuit, according to court records. Seven months later, Grissom told the woman she won a $19,000 default judgment.

When the woman requested a certified copy of the judgment, however, county clerks couldn’t find the case.

The Sheriff’s Office determined that Grissom never actually filed the lawsuit and forged the judgment.

A grand jury indicted Grissom on charges of forgery of a government instrument, a third-degree felony; tampering with a government record, a state jail felony; and theft, a state jail

felony.

Prosecutors also accepted two misdemeanor charges against him: deceptive trade practice and simulating the legal process.

They dropped the felony charges after Grissom paid about $2,500 in restitution, which apparently prompted the woman to file an affidavit of non-prosecution.

Rodriguez, the district attorney, said he anticipates prosecutors will file motions to dismiss the misdemeanor charges too.

Grissom surrendered his law license as part of the agreement.

“We have no problem prosecuting any of these cases going forward if any lawyer attempts to do this to any of their clients,” Rodriguez said.

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SHOOTING

from pg. 1

medication.

Eight officers, including members of the SWAT team, responded to the call. They spent hours attempting to coax Wilson out of the bedroom. He didn’t respond.

Eventually they broke down Wilson’s bedroom door and approached him

cautiously, concerned about a baseball bat and a knife near the bed.

According to police, Wilson refused to surrender and started fumbling with something underneath a blanket.

That prompted an officer to shoot Wilson with a shotgun.

Rodriguez thought he

loaded the shotgun with a less-than-lethal beanbag round. However, he’d actually loaded the shotgun with a breaching round designed to blast open doors.

The round ripped through Wilson’s stomach, creating a roughly 2-inch by 3-inch wound, according to medical

takes its toll, it can be stressful,” Martinez said. “Not everyone is going to like you.

I appreciate how he [Garza] handled himself all those years.”

Former City Manager Julio Cerda, who served before Garza took over the position, spoke about the work of the city manager and what they do for those they serve.

“It’s basically taking care of people,” Cerda said. “And it’s not only taking care of people, but trying to see each one of those people who has a concern on a one-to-one basis, because you are the political arm of the elected officials.”

“I saw Martin as the person that basically was the best person that could be picked for the position as city manager,” Cerda added, speaking about how growth was what he looked for the most when choosing some-

one to take his place. “It was an honor to know at the point that I was leaving the city of Mission to open my own firm, to know the person that I wanted for that position.

Without hesitation, Martin said ‘yes.’”

Garza served Mission in several capacities, including a patrolman, detective, Corporal, Sergeant, Lieutenant, Assistant Chief and the Chief of Police for the Mission Police Department. In 2013, he was named the Interim City Manager before taking on the role as the City Manager for Mission six months later.

“It’s just been a wonderful ride, a dream come true,” Garza said. “Public service is just the greatest profession out there, there’s nothing like it.”

Garza, who noted that there were several public servants in attendance that day, said that their work is a

calling.

“I’ve been so blessed to be able to surround myself with good people like the people that are in this room,” Garza said. “It’s you all, really, that have made my profession the career that it has been.”

Members of Garza’s family, including his wife Isabel, their four sons and his father, were present at the event as well. Garza said he was glad for all the time he will be able to spend with them in retirement.

“I know I’ve missed a lot of nice events and important events,” Garza said. “But they understood the sacrifices one takes when we are public servants.”

“I want to thank my family for that,” Garza said. “It’s been a great honor, it’s been really humbling to be in front of you and receive this.”

MARTIN GARZA

from pg. 1

theclassifieds

records viewed by the Progress Times.

Officers called an ambulance, which transported Wilson to McAllen Medical Center.

“The patient was urgently taken to the operating room for abdominal and wound

from pg. 1

High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area task force Cmdr.

Lupe Treviño, a rising star in Hidalgo County politics. Espinoza supported Treviño for sheriff in November 2004.

Treviño won. Espinoza followed him to the Hidalgo County Sheriff’s Office, where he became an administrative captain.

After nearly eight years working for the sheriff, Espinoza accepted the police chief position in Hidalgo. He kept a relatively low profile.

That changed on Oct. 16, when the city suspended him with pay amid concerns about “allegations of inappropriate workplace conduct and potential conflict of interests,” according to a memo placed in Espinoza’s personnel file.

The city asked Espinoza to surrender his badge, gun, keys and city-issued vehicle.

It also disabled his Hidalgo

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exploration” according to the medical records. “Patient remains combative in the ER and is refusing to answer most questions.”

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THE STATE OF TEXAS NOTICE TO THE DEFENDANT: “You have been sued. You may employ an attorney. If you or your attorney do (does)not file a written answer with the clerk who issued to this citation by 10:00 A.M. on the Monday next after the expiration of forty-two (42) days after the date of issuance of this citation and Petition, a default Judgment may be taken against you.”

TO: Tiburcio Gonzalez GREETINGS: You are herby commanded to appear by filing a written answer to the Plaintiff’s Original Petition at or before 10:00 o’clock A.M. of the Monday next after the expiration of fortytwo (42) days after the date of issuance of this citation the same being the on this the 27th day of June, 2018 before the Honorable Juan Partida, 275th District Court of Hidalgo County, Texas at the Courthouse of said county in Edinburg, Texas. Said CITY OF MISSION’S ORIGINAL PETITION, REQUEST FOR PERMANENT INJUNCTION AND REQUESTS FOR DISCLOSURE filed in said court on the on this the 22nd day of January, 2018 in this case numbered C-0238-18-E on the docket of said court and styled CITY OF MISSION VS. TIBURCIO GONZALEZ AND MARIA S. GONZALEZ Said petition was filed in said court by Attorney JAIME E. TIJERINA, 1201 E. 8th St., Mission, TX 78572.

A brief nature of the suit is as follows: PLAINTIFF(S) PRAY FOR TEMPORARY AND INJUNCTIVE RELIEF RELATED TO A RESIDENCE LOCATED AT 2004 PEACE AVENUE, MISSION, TEXAS, CIVIL PENALTIES COURT COSTS, POST JUDGEMENT INTEREST AND ALL OTHER RELIEF PLAINTIFF MAY BE ENTITLED TO AT LAW. The officer executing this writ shall promptly serve the same according to requirements of law, and the mandates thereof, and make due return as the law directs.

ISSUED AND GIVEN UNDER MY HAND AND SEAL of said Court at Edinburg, Texas on the on this the 21st day of November, 2018.

email account.

Less than a week after the city suspended him, Espinoza filed for divorce, according to Hidalgo County court records.

Espinoza apparently had a relationship with another woman, which resulted in his arrest last week.

At 11:39 p.m. on Dec. 26, a sheriff’s deputy responded to a 911 call on Inspiration Road south of Monte Cristo, according to court records.

The deputy spoke with a woman who accused Espinoza of grabbing her by the neck and pinning her against a wall during an argument.

The woman said “she went to a party in Reynosa, Mexico but did not tell Rodolfo that she was going,” according to the criminal complaint against him. “Rodolfo got upset and they began to argue when she returned home from the party.”

After observing redness on her neck and chest, the deputy arrested Espinoza on suspicion of assault causing bodily injury to a family member, a Class A misdemeanor.

The woman described herself as Espinoza’s common-law wife, according to the criminal complaint.

Espinoza’s divorce, however, isn’t final. The woman couldn’t be reached for comment.

If convicted on the Class A misdemeanor charge, Espinoza faces a maximum of one year in jail and a fine not to exceed $4,000.

Conviction on a Class A misdemeanor would also make Espinoza ineligible to hold a peace officer license without a waiver from the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement.

THE STATE OF TEXAS NOTICE TO THE DEFENDANT: “You have been sued. You may employ an attorney. If you or your attorney do (does)not file a written answer with the clerk who issued to this citation by 10:00 A.M. on the Monday next after the expiration of forty-two (42) days after the date of issuance of this citation and Petition, a default Judgment may be taken against you.”

TO: Guadalupe Cabrera, Jr., DEFENDANT(S) GREETINGS: You are herby commanded to appear by filing a written answer to the Plaintiff’s Original Petition at or before 10:00 o’clock A.M. of the Monday next after the expiration of fortytwo (42) days after the date of issuance of this citation the same being the on this the 20th day of November, 2018 before the Honorable Luis M. Singleterry, 92nd District Court of Hidalgo County, Texas at the Courthouse of said county in Edinburg, Texas. Said CITY OF MISSION’S ORIGINAL PETITION, REQUEST FOR PERMANENT INJUNCTION AND REQUESTS FOR DISCLOSURE filed in said court on the on this the 22nd day of January, 2018 in this case numbered C-0254-18-A on the docket of said court and styled CITY OF MISSION VS. GUADALUPE CABRERA, JR. Said petition was filed in said court by Attorney ABIEL FLORES, 1201 E. 8th St., Mission, TX 78572.

A brief nature of the suit is as follows: PLAINTIFF(S) PRAY FOR TEMPORARY AND INJUNCTIVE RELIEF RELATED TO A RESIDENCE LOCATED AT 3817 LA LOMITA, MISSION, TEXAS, CIVIL PENALTIES COURT COSTS, POST JUDGEMENT INTEREST AND ALL OTHER RELIEF PLAINTIFF MAY BE ENTITLED TO AT LAW. The officer executing this writ shall promptly serve the same according to requirements of law, and the mandates thereof, and make due return as the law directs.

ISSUED AND GIVEN UNDER MY HAND AND SEAL of said Court at Edinburg, Texas on the on this the 20th day of November, 2018.

THE STATE OF TEXAS NOTICE TO THE DEFENDANT: “You have been sued. You may employ an attorney. If you or your attorney do (does)not file a written answer with the clerk who issued to this citation by 10:00 A.M. on the Monday next after the expiration of forty-two (42) days after the date of issuance of this citation and Petition, a default Judgment may be taken against you.”

TO: Maria S. Gonzalez GREETINGS: You are herby commanded to appear by filing a written answer to the Plaintiff’s Original Petition at or before 10:00 o’clock A.M. of the Monday next after the expiration of fortytwo (42) days after the date of issuance of this citation the same being the on this the 27th day of June, 2018 before the Honorable Juan Partida, 275th District Court of Hidalgo County, Texas at the Courthouse of said county in Edinburg, Texas. Said CITY OF MISSION’S ORIGINAL PETITION, REQUEST FOR PERMANENT INJUNCTION AND REQUESTS FOR DISCLOSURE filed in said court on the on this the 22nd day of January, 2018 in this case numbered C-0238-18-E on the docket of said court and styled CITY OF MISSION VS. TIBURCIO GONZALEZ AND MARIA S. GONZALEZ Said petition was filed in said court by Attorney JAIME E. TIJERINA, 1201 E. 8th St., Mission, TX 78572.

A brief nature of the suit is as follows: PLAINTIFF(S) PRAY FOR TEMPORARY AND INJUNCTIVE RELIEF RELATED TO A RESIDENCE LOCATED AT 2004 PEACE AVENUE, MISSION, TEXAS, CIVIL PENALTIES COURT COSTS, POST JUDGEMENT INTEREST AND ALL OTHER RELIEF PLAINTIFF MAY BE ENTITLED TO AT LAW. The officer executing this writ shall promptly serve the same according to requirements of law, and the mandates thereof, and make due return as the law directs.

ISSUED AND GIVEN UNDER MY HAND AND SEAL of said Court at Edinburg, Texas on the on this the 21st day of November, 2018.

page 12 from pg 7

YEAR IN REVIEW

ing an election.

It wasn’t all bad news at the Progress Times.

Our sports reporters were there as the Mission Veterans Patriots made an unprecedented season where they became the first Valley team to win in the Alamodome since Edinburg North in 2012. Their season came to an end last December when they battled the San Antonio Wagner Thunderbirds in the Region IV Class 5A-DI Championship game with a score of 54-21.

The Progress Times also provided readers with the latest new developments happening in the city. This included the newly renovated Leo Peña La Placita Park that opened to the public last fall and the Mission Event Center that opened its doors last spring.

We also bid farewell to Martin Garza, former Mis-

January 4, 2019

www.ptrgv.com | www.strgv.com from pg 8 SULLIVAN CITY

sion city manager who announced his resignation last November (see related story). We were also there when Sen. Ted Cruz visited the city during his campaign tour last fall.

Our social media team delivered live updates on the June floodings that affected the entire Rio Grande Valley, and all the community efforts to rebuild afterward.

We also kept you up to date regarding the new superintendents at the Mission and Sharyland school districts and continued to highlight their graduating students in our latest Campus Chronicles, which also covered the La Joya school district.

Stories like this are the kind that Progress Times is known to deliver, and our resolution for the New Year is to continue with that tradition.

We understand that in this

day and age, information is a tool that has the power to impact and shape a community and we strive to do our best to bring you the most necessary information you need to harness that power.

But we can’t do it alone.

Being in a community means being involved in it, and you do that every time you subscribe or purchase a copy of the Progress Times.

Our doors are always open for you to walk in and give us any story ideas or suggestions you may have for us.

A subscription is an opportunity for you to be more informed in your community and help those in charge know that the community cares about the developments of their community.

Email the Progress Times at info@progresstimes.net or call us at (956)585-4893 with any story ideas and tips or to subscribe.

Courtesy photo.

Members of the United Committee of Sullivan City at Casa del Taco Saturday, Dec. 22, 2018.

Among the many events ty,” Salinas said. “We get plained. the Committee held last year donations everywhere from Among the guests was was their annual toy drive school board members, Hidalgo County Precinct 3 that was held concurrently friends, and they help us. We Commissioner Joe Flores, with Sullivan City’s Christ- all know each other since who Salinas said is the mas in the Park where they we’re from the same com- group’s biggest donor. gave out nearly 1,300 new munity we know who to turn “I was born near Sullivan toys to the children in the to.”

City and raised there,” Flores city.

The appreciation dinner said. “I know many of these “We do school supply was attended by nearly 30 people and feel like I owe it drives, karaoke nights, Na- people with dinner paid for to them to help them out and tional Night Out and Hal- with leftover money from get them on their feet. I feel loween and Thanksgiving what the committee raised that it’s good to do this.” activities for the communi- in the last year, Salinas ex-

The Time Is Near…

Happy New Year!

As we count down to 2019, we’d like to share our thanks and best wishes with everyone who has been a part of our year.

We’ve really enjoyed spending time with you, and we hope the next twelve months bring you countless reasons to celebrate!

Arturo R. Galvan Jr.

Salvador Vela

MAYOR PRO-TEM

MAYOR

509 S. Alton Blvd. • Alton, TX 78573 www.alton-tx.gov • (956) 432-0760

Ricardo Garza

Richard Arevalo

COMMISSIONER

Emilio Cantu Jr.

COMMISSIONER

COMMISSIONER

Happy New Year!

Anna Lisa Ruiz Commissioner

Jose A. “Fito” Salinas Mayor Mary Salinas Mayor Pro-Tem Rey Acosta Maria E. “Geny” Salinas Commissioner Commissioner

Julianita Sabala Mike Alaniz Michael Pruneda City Administrator City Attorney Administrative Secretary

www.CityOfPenitas.com

facebook.com/ cityofpenitas

Happy New Year!

Ramiro J. Rodrigurez, Jr. Mayor

www.cityofpalmhursttx.com

1201 E. 8th St. (956) 580-8650 www.missiontexas.us

Roberto A. Salinas Mayor Pro-Tem

Jaime Aranda Councilman

Dr. Armando Ocaña MAYOR

Norie Garza MAYOR PRO-TEM

Ruben Plata COUNCILMAN

Gus Martinez COUNCILMAN

Ruben De Leon Councilman

Jessica Ortega-Ochoa COUNCILWOMAN

Martin Garza, Jr. CITY MANAGER

Israel Silva Councilman

Happy New Year 2019!

Ofelia Peña-Perez Councilwoman

MAYOR PRO-TEM

COUNCILMAN

ALEX GUAJARDO JOSE ROEL FLORES

MAYOR

RIGO LOPEZ

COUNCILMAN

COUNCILMAN

FELIPE QUINTANILLA RAMIRO LOYA

Ricardo Villarreal Mayor

www.cityofpalmview.com

Javier Ramirez Councilman

Jose Luis Perez Councilman

Linda Sarabia Councilwoman

Joel Garcia Mayor Pro Tem

Anthony Uresti Councilman